The Home advocate. (Farmerville, La.) 1885-1???, 1887-06-10
CHAPTER XVII.
PICKLES PARADISE. "

Detective Gray had the good luck to find
the white mare, Flight, after long search,
but after making sure of the noble beast
he turned his attention to hunting up Iva
in vain.
1t was late in thesafternoon ere he gave
over the search and set his face toward
Silversand, the smoke from whose Chin
neys was visible in the distance.
TOO bad, muttered the man with the
keen gray eyes. The girl may have been
rescued by some one from the city. or by a
relative. will 90 to Silversand and rest
there for the present. may meet that
young scamp who sent me whirling in the
Silver Mine card-room. I'd like right well
to do SO. And this Burden Brono, who
cunningly stole my satche, is at large, yet
not far away. am soon to realize my ex-
pectations, and will win a cool ten thousand
for my trouble.
Il must not dee IT the Swayre girl;
= hate to 60 froA the, t'a Without aes, but
don't think it prudel to remain all night
here, it could do no god"
Thus solilog,ized the detective IS he
wound his way on an ill-defined trail
through the hills. He reached Silversand
at dark. and crossed the little bridge where
the night before he had been stricken down
by the hand of the man he had trailed from
New York.
at was lucky for me that you did invent
. novel machine for murder, Burden Bro
no." muttered Eagle Gray, as he rode the
white mare across the bridge.
Hello, stranger! Halt there!"
Eagle Gray drew rein in the middle of
the street, where lights from the windows
illuminated the spot, confronted by man
with grizzled beard and hair, clad in re-
spectacle garb.
Stranger, where did you get my horse?"
"Your horse? Are you dreaming, old
man." demanded the detective.
mo. Come down or I'll make trouble
for you.
At the same time the old man displayed
. revolver. The detective did not care for
the weapon, but he saw something familiar
In the old fellows countenance.
"You are the proprietor of Bog Tavern?"
Il am. This mare was stolen from me
last night
by your niece, Iva?"
"Yes. Have you seen her? am very
anxious about the child. I expect she was
induced to flee from home by designing
villain"
Perhaps. saw Iva Swayne this morn
ing. but lost track Of her..
Then the detective dismounted and stood
"Ah, it is the gentleman of the stage
coach" exclaimed Swayne. Il remember
you now-you are a detective?"
Come" said Eagle Gray. not needing
the question Of his companion. Let us
repair to Quiet place and We will talk the
matter over.
"You acknowledge my ownership of the
mare?'
Certainly; the girl told me about it."
Lucius Swayne. being pretty thoroughly
acquainted with the city. led the way to a
house on one Of the back streets that bore
over the door the sign: PICKLES PARA
DIsE."
Go in, sir. will lead the horse to the
stable. aud then come round and talk with
you. Pete Pickles keeps the quietest house
in town. aiwss Jtop there. Tell him l
sent You. and you'll get the best the house
affords.
The detective turned the white mare over
to her owner. and passed in through the
portals of pickles Paradise
II might be quiet place. but it was cer-
tainly the dirtiest spot the detective had
yet found in the West. The air was thick
with smoke, SO thick that countenances
were unacceptable across the room, and
the fumes of poor whisky were almost un-
Eagle Gray had become hardened in this
particular, however. and did not mind the
rank smell. He wondered, however. at the
landlord Of Bog Tavern recommending such
. place. The fat, red-faced Pickles was
behind the low bar when the detective en-.
tered. Tossing quarter on the bar Gray
called for cigar.
He sat in one corner and puffed at the
weed and watched the faces Of the men who
the place-toughs and blear-
eyed miners of the lowest degree.
And this was the quiet house so praised
By Lucius Swayne.
Gray sat until he had finished his weed,
\ full half hour and then he rose to his
feet and crossed to the door.
Swayne had not yet put in an appearance.
Il which the detective began to wonder.
He saw nothing of him outside. and then